PokerNews live coverage of this event will begin on Day 2 (July 14). Until then, we will keep readers informed with updates on chip counts and core event statistics, including entries and the prize pool. Scroll down to see more.
The most exciting time in live poker is upon us, with the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event No-Limit Hold'em World Championship now underway.
The WSOP Main Event is considered the most prestigious live poker tournament, drawing thousands of entrants from far and wide, each hoping to become poker's world champion.
The field sizes of the Main Event are massive, despite the five-figure buy-in. With so many of poker's top players in action at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, you're spoiled for choice regarding who to add to your MyPlayers Feed.
Chip counts according to WSOP app.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) kicked off back on May 26, and now it is in the home stretch as June has come to an end and the $10,000 Main Event is underway. More than 70 tournaments have awarded bracelets thus far, and the PokerNews Live Reporting team has been on-site all summer long, capturing the action.
During that time, they've reported on some entertaining hands, bad beats, and more, which we're happy to feature in the latest edition of "Hands of the Week" presented by GTOWizard.
Before Michael Rocco won his first World Series of Poker bracelet two years ago, he'd already decided he was leaving poker behind.
When PokerNews caught up with the high-stakes player during the 2024 WSOP, the conversation wasn't about solvers, Player of the Year races, or the growing list of near-misses that had come to define his career. Instead, Rocco revealed he was preparing to step away from the game to pursue regenerative farming.
And then a few hours later, he finally won the bracelet he'd spent years chasing.
For most players, finally reaching the top would have been the beginning of another chapter. For Rocco, it simply meant he got to leave exactly how he'd hoped.
PokerNews caught up with the now 36-year-old to see how life is on the farm, and whether the poker grind is something that he yearns to go back to.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas is gearing up for Event #95: $500 Summer Saver No-Limit Hold’em. The first of two flights for this event kicks off at 10:00 a.m. local time in Las Vegas on July 12, with Day 1B starting the same time the following day. All remaining players will then return for the final day on July 14, to battle it out for one of the last remaining bracelets at this year’s World Series.
After previous editions were held online, the $500 Summer Saver makes its live WSOP debut in 2026. With two re-entries per flight, there are several opportunities for players to run up a stack in one of the lowest-buy-in events of the series.
The $500 Summer Saver No-Limit Hold’em event starts at 10:00 a.m. local time on July 12, with players receiving 50,000 starting chips. Blind levels are 30 minutes for the entire tournament. Day 1a (July 12) and 1b (July 13) will play 20 levels, with 20-minute breaks every four levels. There will be a 60-minute dinner break after Level 16 (around 7:00 p.m.). Registration is open for 12 levels, until approximately 5:00 p.m.
Day 2 will begin on July 14 at noon and play until a champion is crowned. There will be 20-minute breaks every four levels, and a 60-minute dinner break at approximately 9:00 p.m.
While this is the first live version of the event, last year’s online edition of the $500 Summer Saver saw Andrew Rosen take home $103,454. Rosen, from the United States, beat a field of 1,763 entrants to win his first ever WSOP bracelet.
Stay closer than ever to the action with MyPlayers. This brand new, free feature on PokerNews puts your favorite poker players front and center. Whether you're keeping tabs on legends like Daniel Negreanu or following a friend grinding their way through a Day 2, MyPlayers delivers real-time updates tailored just for you. No subscriptions, no paywalls - just the hands, chip counts, and bustouts that matter most.
It’s simple: log in, search for any player in our live coverage, hit the star, and they’ll be added to your personalized MyPlayers list. You’ll see their progress across all live-reported events, with chip counts and updates pinned right where you need them at the top.
From railbirds to backers, MyPlayers is the smarter way to stay connected to the game.
Event #95: $500 Summer Saver No-Limit Hold'em
Day 1a Started
button in Safari
